Whispers started to spread throughout the room. It was faint at first, but then they became louder and started layering over each other. Everyone had been told through *Flameborn Connection* that they had reached their current destination.
As Luis was looking around over hearing conversations of people talking about arriving at the Wrift Caverns. Luis' vision darkened again for a split second, like when he had first entered the *Shadow Prison*. Even though Luis wasn't chained in the Shadow Prison, it felt like an invisible weight disappeared from him as his body was being released from the shadow prison by Sera.
Luis knew the name of the place they were going, but he didn't really know what the caverns were. All he knew was that it was like a cave but bigger and underground.
When coming out of the Shadow Prison, he had expected it to be a dark and gloomy place but to his surprise, it was fully lit up, brighter than the Shadow Prison.
Looking around, Luis noticed that there were crystal like gems embed on the walls lighting up the cavern. The gems were all the same shade of blue, illuminating their surroundings. The gems had green, roots like veins stretching out of them, that used their veins to absorb nutrients from their surroundings. The gems were called Azurin Crystals. They were the main source of trade for the kingdom Luis's family was in.
Standing up and taking a breath, Luis could feel the weight of the world again, the pull of gravity on his body and the air pushing past him. The invisible force that had kept Luis in Sera's ability had disappeared.
The cavern was vast. Rock formations jutted out from the floor like fangs. A small stream ran through the cavern, disappearing into a narrow hole in the wall that only a child would be able to fit through. The ceiling also had rock formations protruding like fangs. It was high enough that if any of those rocks fell, it would be fatal.
Luis then noticed a thin blue barrier starting to appear on the walls and ceiling of the cavern.
A few feet away, the two Xoliti Clan members who had traveled with them had already moved into action.
Luis watched as the Xoliti Clan members moved to different sides of the cave. They had both raised their hands, palms open to the walls. Aura spread around their bodies, glowing in a bluish hue outside their skin.
The air in the cave shifted it started to feel more breathable and less cold. The blue film surrounding the cavern walls faded after fully enveloping the cavern. As the blue barrier disappeared, small symbols appeared instead, glowing faintly on the walls and ceiling.
The barrier was set up to seal the cavern entrance and act as protection, stopping people with abilities that could locate them.
While Luis was still focused on the Xoliti Clan members, his mother approached from behind. She placed a hand on his head to make him realize someone was behind him.
"Luis, everyone's already been told what to do by Cheif Bane. We are gonna help set up tents. Do you wanna come watch or help out?" Elena asked in a gentle and soothing voice.
Luis raised his mother's hand from his head. "I'll help out, but how are we gonna get tents?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. Aunt Sera can also carry supplies in her shadows it's easier than carrying people," Elena replied.
Elena pointed to her right, near one of the corners of the cave, where Noah and his siblings were already setting up tents. Although his siblings were just sitting on a rock and watching.
"I told you with Flameborn Connection that we were gonna set up tents, but it looked like you were too focused on the barrier around the cave, so I told your dad to go first while I told you."
Elena gestured for Luis to follow her. While following Elena, Luis looked around to see kids of similar ages to his siblings. Some were having fun, some were confused, and others were scared, clinging to their parents. Luis noticed that the older a person was, the more distressed they looked.
Luis looked at his siblings once more. They appeared better than before. Once they were told that nothing had happened to Taran and that no one was harmed, their expressions eased. It also helped that Mira and Rico had lightened the mood when talking to Kael and Lira. Mira did leave halfway through to talk to Aelina and Ardyn.
Getting closer to where people were setting up tents, Elena turned around and said, "Sorry, Luis. Looks like we have a change of plans. Can you take your siblings and head to that man who was setting up the barrier earlier? The tall, skinny man over there."
She pointed at the man sitting near the stream, writing something on another kid's arm.
"He will place a protective barrier on you. It will also help stop people from detecting you. It's what we have used to hide our Phoenix blessings, but way stronger. Also, Mira, Rico, and another person from a different village you don't know are gonna be rounding up all the kids, so just ask them if you have any questions. Also, tell this to Kael and Lira, okay? I'll just tell them to go to you."
Elena said, smiling at Luis.
Luis just nodded instead of responding.
As Luis's mom departed from him, Luis looked over to notice both his siblings skipping towards him, Luis assumed his mother already told them telepathically.
After they arrived Luis just started walking forwards assuming his mom told them what they needed to do.
After a few moment of silence with his siblings following Luis, Kael spoke
"Mom said you would show us something cool."
"I don't know, I'm not showing it that person is, Luis pointed up ahead of a Xoliti clan member."
Luis walked with his siblings, their footsteps being quiet. The Azurin crystals on the walls cast shadows on the ground as they moved. All around them were Phoenix Clan members setting up tents or moving supplies, while some were discussing plans.
Luis was walking ahead to a group of children who were gathered in a loose circle. Mira and Rico were among them. Rico and Mira's voices carried in the caverns as they played a game to keep the kids distracted.
A few feet away from the loose circle of kids, a Xoliti Clan member sat on the ground, inscribing glowing symbols on the arm of a kid. He wore a relaxed expression as he placed protective markings on each kid one by one.
Luis and his siblings' steps slowed as they observed the process. Then, he gestured for the kid to go away and looked at Mira and Rico to send another one. His eyes flickered to Luis and his siblings for a brief second before going back to inscribing. Mira and Rico noticed Luis after they followed the man's eyes. Mira excitedly waved at them while Rico gave a smile.
Before they could continue walking towards the circle, another person appeared before them. He was a tall man, six feet tall, with black hair that looked tousled, and his dark eyes reflected the cavern's light. He had a daunting frame, but the smile on his face made him look friendly and more approachable.
"Well, looks like you're here for your turn," he said, his voice relaxed.
"Welcome, my name is Sylas, and what you're gonna be doing is putting protection inscriptions on your arm. They will help protect you if you are in danger. I will tell you guys when it's your turn. Got it?"
he said in a rehearsed tone.
"You're not gonna get any inscriptions for now. You can just relax, maybe play with the others."
He looked towards Rico and Mira.
"Mira and Rico have been keeping everyone occupied."
Luis, Lira, and Kael exchanged glances with each other before turning back to him.
Kael's brows furrowed.
"We have never seen you in the village before."
Lira nodded.
"Yeah, how have we never seen you at the village before?"
Sylas laughed. "Well, do you know Sera?"
Kael and Lira perked up instantly.
"Of course, we know Aunt Sera!" Kael said.
"I'm her disciple," Sylas replied.
Luis's eyebrows rose in confusion. Aunt Sera's disciple? He thought he would have seen him if he was her disciple.
Easily able to see the thoughts on the kids' faces, Sylas chuckled and moved his hands, forming an intricate shadow dragon about a meter tall. Each of its dragon scales was easily visible, and its mouth showed its fangs. Luis and his siblings were surprised by the complicated design of it and how effortlessly Sylas made it.
"See? I'm using shadows just like Master Sera."
Luis didn't move, but Kael and Lira instantly tried touching the dragon. However, as soon as they touched it, the shadows broke and fell.
"The shadow was weaker 'cause I focused on design rather than stability."
"Wait, if you're Aunt Sera's disciple, why have we never seen you before?"
Luis asked.
Sylas crossed his arms, still smiling.
"I was in a different village, so you wouldn't have seen me. Also, I am eight years older than Mira and Rico. Master Sera trained me since I was a kid, so I don't need more training. Okay, that's enough talking."
Sylas then pointed to Luis.
"You're up first to get the protection barrier scribed on you. The rest go group up with Rico and Mira they will keep you entertained."